Portable screen



M. P. ALMY.

PORTABLE SCREEN.

APPLlCATlON FILED own, 1919.

1,348,073 Patented y 27, 1920.

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M. P. ALMY.

PORTABLE SCREEN. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I7, 1919. 1,348,073. Patented July 27,1920.

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M. P. ALMY.

PORTABLE SCREEN.

APPLICATION men 050. H, 1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

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PORTABLE SCREEN.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 2'7, 1920.

Application Med December 17. 1919. Serial No. 345,603.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Means P. ALMY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn in the county of Kings and State of New fork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Screens, of which. the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved portable screen designed primarily as an ornamental and useful article of furniture for domestic use, and particularly adapted for utilization of housekeepers as a kitchen cabinet, thus providing. an ornamental and useful device that may be extened and used as a kitchenette for light house-keeping, and with equal facility may be folded into compact form and shape when not needed, and stored in small space to occupy a minimumamount of room in the house.

The invention consists essentially 'in' the combinations and arrangements of parts in a hinged or foldable, sectional screen in which the panels are specially constructed to brace and stabilizeeach other when extended, and involving means on the intermediate panel for engaging and retaining the outer panels in proper position when the screen is extended, and flnther in the peculiarconstruction of 'the outer panels, which are "movable with relation to the intermediate panel, with coperating portions of the intermediate or center panel, whereby the panels may be folded parallel with the central or intermediate one, all as will-be fully described and claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have so far devised'for the practical application-of the principles of my invention,- but it w-ill be understood that changes in construction may be made within the scope of myclaims without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

Figure lies a front elevation view of the portable screen with its partsextended and ready for use as a-kitchen cabinet, thestructu're embodying the novel features and combinations of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear or outerelevation of the screen, extended as in Fig. 1.

Fig.' 3 is a horizontal sectional view, vat

latter panel in folded position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, exaggerated, sectional view on a horizontal line showing one of the panels folded in with the intermediate panel, and showing also a portion of the other foldable panel.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing one of the hinge constructions between the panels.

Fi 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view showmg a drop-shelf,.which is hinged to the intermediate panel, in uplifted or raised position and latched to the intermediate panel.

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, the screen embodies three sections or panelsthe intermediate or central panel 1, and the two side or foldable panels 2 and 3, respectively, hinged at 4, and provided with casters 5, in order that the screen may be moved conveniently, and the two foldable panels 2 and 3 swung to extended or to folded position with facility. The panels are designed to swing on their'hinges to convert the screen for use as a kitchen cabinet where all parts are readily accessible and within easy reach of the housekeeper, or the end panels may be swung around to position parallel with the main panel, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 in dotted lines, to form a compactstructure that may be wheeled into an inconspicuous or convenient place, and out of the way. To provide for compact folding of the parts, it will be noted that the foldablepanels are approximately one half the width of the main panel, thus 'adaptingthem to be folded within the limits of the width of:themain panel, on the hinges 4;, and because of the specific construction of the upper and. lower portions of the foldable panels with relation to complementary parts-of the main panel, a flat structure is secured when the parts are folded into compact form.

The panels are made up of suitable material, preferably wood of desired kind, and of such dimensions as to provide a household article of this nature all parts of which may be reached, and are within ready access of the housekeeper.

, One side of the panels, which may be termed the outer side, is ornamented by suitable scroll work, or other ornamentation may be utilized, in order to present a pleasing appearance to the observer, from the outside of the screen, and the inner sides of the panels are equipped with various features for the convenience of the housekeeper, as will be described.

The main panel 1, as depicted especially in Figs. 3, 4, 7 is fashioned with end walls (3, located preferably at an acute angle to the plane o'f'the panel, and less than 45 with respect to said panel, and these end boards extend the full height of the panel and are firmly and securely fixed thereto, .to form,

at theirouter edges, supports for the hinges 4. which join the foldable panels to the main panel. In theupper part of the main panel, a series of horizontal, spaced shelves 7 are fixed, which, in addition to performing their functions as shelves,'also brace and render rigid the end walls or boards 6 with relation to the main panel. The lower portion 8 of the main panel, it will be observed, is an open space, unobstructed, and providedfas a receptacle for portions of the foldable panels, as will be explained. At a point illustrated as just below the vertical center of the main panel, a drop shelf 9 is provided, and equipped with a pivoted latch 10 upon which the spring 11 bears. This spring is incased in a mortise or socket 12 in the face of the panel 1, and the slotted plate 13 which closes the mortise, also performs the'functions of a latch-keeper for the latchlO, to hold the drop shelf in in-operative or folded position, as in Fig. 6, where it is folded up to upright position and retained parallel with the panel 1 by the latch 10, hinges being indicated at 14 to pivotally join the shelf to the panel 1. When in use, the latch 10 is lifted and the shelf is dropped or swung down on its hinges 14 to horizontal position as in Figs. '1 and 3, and provides a convenient working place for the housekeeper.

' 'lhc foldable panels 2 and 3 are also converted for use as part of the cabinet, and to this end they are equipped with end walls 15 and 15 and end walls 16 and 16 the former pair at the free ends of the panels and the latter pair adjacent the respective end walls of the main panel, and forming supports for'the hinges. It will be noted, particularly in Fig. 7 that the end walls 15, 15,- are in a vertical plane perpendicular to the outer faces of the foldable panels, or at an angle of 90 with relation thereto, andwhen the panels are folded these walls are positioned parallel with each other and at right angles to the plane outside faces of all three panels. The walls or end boards 16 16 however, are of special construction and disposed at a predetermined angle to the other three planes of the foldable panels, in order that they may co-act with the angular end walls 6 of-the main panel.

it will be noted that the lower arts of the foldable panels are of'greatest epth to provide a refrigerator 17 having the usual ice and food compartments, and the panel 3 has built in closets 18, with suitable doors, theclosets being of depth similar to the refrigerator portion of panel 2, and the upper portions of these deep sections of the respective foldable panels may be utilized as drawers 19- From an inspection of the drawings it will be ,apparent that the two deep, lower portions of the panels 2 and 3, may be folded or swung around on the hinges 41 into the space 8 of the main panel when closing the screen, and the refrigerator and cupboards or closets 18 occupy the open lower space of the main panel when the screen is closed. I

The upper part of the main panel which supports the fixed shelves 7 is adapted to receive the upper parts of the foldable panels, and to this end the shelves 7 project only half the distance of the depth of the refrigerator, while the upper part of the foldable panels is only half'the depth of the refrigerator, permitting the foldable panels to he swung around parallel with the inain panel. In the shallow part of the two panels 2 and 3 shelves 20 and spaces 21 are provided, and in addition, closets 22 or cupboards with hinged doors are provided in the shallow depth of these panels. A portion of the top of the lower, deep, structure of the foldable panels have respective ledges 23 and 2. upon which the drop shelf 9 rests when the latter is in operative position, as in Fig. 1. and if desired means may be provided for securing the drop shelf to the panel structures to hold th m against outward movement. thus utilizing the drop shelf as a brace while it is supported on the deep extensions of the foldable anels.

ile I have referred to the different parts of the panels as cupboards,v closets, drawers. refrigerator &c., it will of course be apparent that these features may be varied as to their use and structures, the essential part of the panels being maintained however. as to the equal depth of the upper part will be understood that these adjoining walls must be beveled to prevent the foldable panels being swung around into alinement with the main panel. Thus the angle at which the foldable panels project toward each other from the line of the main panel may be varied, but must be suificient to brace the screen as a whole to prevent falling over, either backward or forward. The maxinuun depth of the foldable panels at their lower portions is sufiicient to provide a foundation or base for the screen, and the inwardly turned panels, in addition, provide ready access for the housekeeper.

What I claim is 1. The combination with the main central panel, of a pair of hinged, foldable side panels said central and side panels having beveled sides adjoining one another when the side panels are extended, said foldable panels being of approximately one half the width of the main panel and adapted to fold parallel therewith, and said central and side panels having their inner faces provided with article holding means of which the said means at the lower portions of the side panels form portions ofmaximumdepth, the lower portion of the main panel being open to receive the portions of maximum depth of the foldable panels, and the upper portions of the central and side-panels being of eqaul depth, for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a main central panel having beveled end walls, foldable, hinged side panels having complementarily beveled walls adjoining the said central panel walls in the operative position and having lower projecting portions whose upper inner ends extend partially across the central panel, and a drop shelf hinged to the main panel and adapted to rest in operative position on the said upper inner ends of said projecting portions. I I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MARIE P. ALMY. 

